Series: Silver Spoon MC Series by Nichole Rose
Total pages in book: 27
Estimated words: 24334 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 122(@200wpm)___ 97(@250wpm)___ 81(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 24334 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 122(@200wpm)___ 97(@250wpm)___ 81(@300wpm)
Dimitri and Dante Arakas will have to step over my rotting corpse to get their hands on her.
I shift slightly, and she reaches for me.
"No, daddy. Don't go."
I glance down at her, but she's passed out, talking in her sleep.
Huh. Even in her sleep, she wants me to stay.
Even in her sleep, she called me daddy.
No, she's not going back to Houston. She's not going anywhere.
Chapter Four
Devin
"You're being weird," I whisper, staring at Jude. He's standing across the island from me in the massive kitchen, scowling at nothing. He looks like a pissed-off angel against the backdrop of sunlight flooding in from the windows behind him. Beams of it even dance around his head like a halo of light. He's been scowling ever since I woke up and found him in here this morning. It's starting to stress me out a little bit. When I fell asleep last night, for the first time since my parents died when I was nine, my life felt almost perfect. Like I was living in a fairytale.
Jude kissed me. He called himself my daddy. How many times have I whispered that forbidden word to myself in the dark of night? Too many to count. I never imagined I'd ever say it to him though. I thought if he ever knew how badly I wanted that, he'd flee in the other direction. But he didn't flee. I didn't even bring it up. He did.
In that moment, I was on top of the world, soaring fifteen feet off the ground. I was untouchable. Now though…now I'm worried. I think he regrets it. My stomach is all twisted in knots. Anxiety churns through me with every beat of my heart. I don't like it.
I want to go back to last night. I won't fall asleep this time. I'll stay awake and savor the moment so it doesn't end. Maybe we'll do more this time. He'll touch me, or I'll touch him. Anything to prolong the joy and stave off this, this…gnawing worry.
I don't want him to regret me.
"Did you sleep well, Devin?"
We're back to that this morning too. Devin. Last night, I was his princess. I was his baby doll. Today, I'm Devin. My mama named me after her favorite person in the world—my dad. I've always loved my name. Not today.
"Yes." I push my plate away. It's the first homecooked meal I've had in a week. Jude cooked it for me. My plate is overflowing with bacon and eggs and hashbrowns and toast. Way more food than I could eat in a week. But I'm not very hungry.
"You need to eat," he says, frowning. He's always frowning. At me, anyway. I know he smiles at his brothers. I've seen him. I've heard him laugh and joke with them too. But he's always grumpy with me. He's a grumpy daddy bear. Except…maybe he doesn't want to be?
More anxiety churns through me.
"I'm not hungry."
"You've been living on protein bars and crackers."
"I had food."
His scowl deepens. "Protein bars, a box of crackers, a couple of purloined bananas, a piece of cake, a half box of oatmeal pies, and two hot dogs isn't food, Devin."
"You know what I took?" I ask, nonplussed. I didn't expect that. Honestly, I didn't think anyone would notice. They keep this place fully stocked. Not that that excuses me for stealing. It was still wrong. "I'll pay the MC back for what I took. I just don't have any money right now."
"Why don't you have money? You've been working at the flower shop for a year."
"It's in the bank," I whisper, dropping my gaze to my hands. "I was afraid if I used my card, Dimitri would be able to track me. He's good at that kind of stuff."
Jude grunts.
"I'll pay you guys back, I promise."
"We don't want your money, Devin."
"Oh." I swallow. "Um, what do you want?"
"Right now? For you to eat your breakfast."
"I'm not hungry."
He sighs and sets his coffee mug down on the island before stomping around to my side. His steps actually vibrate the floor. He's not in a suit today. He's in faded jeans and a black Henley. He looks so damn hot. The flesh between my thighs pulses every time I look at him. I've been squeezing my legs together all morning, but it's not helping at all.
He stops beside my stool and hooks a foot around the bottom, dragging me toward him. The stool screeches across the porcelain tile, probably scratching it all up. Ms. Gloria won't be happy about that. He should really be more careful and not make more work for her. I'm not telling him that though. He's grumpy enough already.
"Up," he demands, placing his hands around my waist and then hauling me out of the seat. He places me on the island beside my plate and then settles into my seat. He's so much taller than I am that we're nearly eye to eye.